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May 04, 2005

Hyper-quick: Dinosaur Jr. single re-release news, tour dates. I can't believe I am saying this, but it kinda makes me wish I lived in Cleveland. Or, uhm, someplace they're touring at least. Although, come to think of it, I don't know how it could possibly get any better than when we saw them (sort of) last year.

March 14, 2005

Whoa, there is a "Hello Dolly!" song in a K-Mart commercial. I just saw it! Wacky! That was the first musical I was ever in, you know! Would you like me to sing to you now?

Seeing Steve Earle last night was so great and uplifting. First, I must say, it was awesome to see so many people under the age of 70 there (although certainly, there was no shortage of bald men, but you know, more "style-bald" than "nursing home-bald") and the venue was rad. (The whole thing made me wonder why tax money is going to the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield, when there's a perfectly cool space downtown that seems to have been restored without any handouts and was packed to all hell last night. I guess that's because everyone in the Berkshires is, like, brain damaged or something. It's really what I've come to expect after the last 6 years.)

But I digress! As I always do. The point is, he was great in terms of just the performance -- he played from about 9pm until after 11pm, which was crazy-long. He did covers of the Beatles, Stones and Townes Van Zandt, all of which were completely killer, as well as a lot of material from his newish record. The coolest part, though, is how his music really breaks through that tired upper-middle-class, white liberal bullshit that frames every debate in this namby-pamby, intellectual framework. Steve's stuff is just awesomely raw, though very intelligent, and that's why it's powerful. So see him if you get the chance, even if you would ordinarily steer clear of alt-country as a genre.

January 31, 2005

October 27, 2004

For your reading enjoyment: here's a sentiment I thoroughly agree with, if I am being honest with myself, courtesy of Tom Panarese in this week's Black List:

AIR SUPPLY: It took me a second or two to identify "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" on a commercial for MTV's "Sunday Stew," but once I realized that Ashton Kutcher hitting Bam Margera in the face with a dodgeball was set to this Jim Steinman-penned "classic," I could not stop laughing. And you know what? Not only do I know all the words, but I have the song on CD. I'm not ashamed anymore, either. I want cheesy pop-rock to make a comeback. I know the pop landscape has changed a lot since 1981, and that wishing for the triumphant return of REO Speedwagon doesn't give me much "cred" in this world of hipsters and rock snobs, but dammit, I don't care. I want the post-1970s hangover that gave us poodle-haired, mustachioed front men; stratosphere-reaching, Steve Perry-fueled power ballads; and "Take it on the Run." After all, as cool as Franz Ferdinand may be, singing along in the car to "Take Me Out" doesn't provide the satisfaction one gets from belting "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" so out of tune that people roll down their windows to tell you to shut up. B+

Indeed! I, for one, will never tire of singing along to "Don't Stop Believin'" -- in fact, good God! As I type this, almost against my will -- but not really, because it's so enjoyable -- I am, out loud and completely for real singing, "Some will win, some will lose, some are born to sing the bluuuuuues!" Oh my God, that song fucking rocks.

Up early, as always and saw a video on VH1 (I know, I am old!) of the Vote for Change folks singing something or other! I mean, I didn't know the song or anything, and it was not as interesting to me as seeing the actual sets would have been, but still, so cool to see some of my longtime favorites (Michael Stipe, I am still waiting for you! Call me!) on one stage. So, woo, that shit's cool! (But, I am wondering -- where was Conor Oberst? I know he must have been there, and Jim James too -- they were on the REM/Springsteen bill -- but maybe they are not famous enough to get to stand up front? Anyone spot those crazy kids?)

September 02, 2004

August 26, 2004

OK, is there a reason that none of all y'all bitches didn't tell me that Terrell Owens is playing for the Eagles now? Goodness, New England really is a wasteland of sports news! All we hear about are those thuggish Red Sox, ick! Thank God for football season -- and most of all for a Steelers-Eagles game on ESPN! I must have done something wicked good to deserve this!

ETA, because I forgot about this earlier: heard an NPR story today on this band, the Minibosses, who play old Nintendo songs in the indie rock manner. Hee.